Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-07
TWO COMMUNITIES.
BErI ? HISTORY OF SOME socIALIsfIc
EXPERIMENTS IN IOWA.
The Icarians-The Season Of Contsn tmsnt
and Their Subsequent Differences
The Inspirationists.
fSioux City Journal


The Icarian community near Corn
ing. Iowa, has practically dissolved.
The trouble was that the younger
members would not brook the restraints
imposed by the laws and rules OF the
society. The old men were sticklers,
and too rigid in their Interpretation of
the constitution, and the young men
+ rebclled. The society had its origin in
France and settled in a body
at Nauvoo. ILL.,, but moved to
tine present location in 1854, be-
fore the organization OF this sec
ton into counties. The founder was
Ftiepe CADET. The society, unlike
II ost other communistic bodies, has no
religions forms, believing that the es-
sence of religion exists rather in prac-
tce than in creed, the members regard
ing Sunday as a day OF amusement.
Although atheists, the principal feature
Of the Jcarian scheme is the one text
Of the New Testament, which under
lies all communistic experience, to be
found in Acts H., A-45: land all that
believed were together, and had all
things in common, and sold their pos
sessions and goods and parted them to
all men, as every man had need. "
For nearly a generation as time IS
measured IN the life of man the lcarians
dwelt happily and contented. Their
property, q farm Of 5000 acres, was
Owned III common. A council OF the
oldest men controlled the affairs and
designated the work each person was
TO perform. There was little associa-
ton for many years with the outside
world. The language spoken was
French ana the old men were slow in
getting knowledge OF English. As
already intimated, the young people
who have grown up since coming here
were anxious for more progressive
methods and ideas. OF course the elders
opposed any innovation of changes III
plans or policy, and the differences OF
opinion eliminated several years ago in
a division of property. the old members
leaving the homestead to the children,
while the elders betook themselves to a
Lew location n half mile distant from
the original nest. The young people
in the old home kept the old name,
"Tbe Icarian Community" and the
old people called their split off 50 The
New Icarians." The latter in their new
location built after the old plan of group
ing their cottages around square, III
the centre of which was a large build
ing used for lecture, amuse-
mcnt. dining, and cooking purposes.
They believe in the sacredness of the
marriage relation, and each family has
its own home, but all eat together in
the central diniDg-room. The elders
took with them 10 their new home a
large library and fine collection OF in-
stiuments for scientific experiments.
Among the older members were men of
profound learning, and i'll the earlier
days of their life here the lecture hall
was the scene Of manyafine exposition
of scientific subjects. Many of them.
too, possessed histrionic talent, and
Sunday evening was usually given up
10 the performance of some theatrical
play. =,
Tor several years they printed lit
tie weekly paper upon type brought
from France. Icaria stands upon a
pretty eminence three miles east Of
this place, south of the railroad track,
and in plain view of the car-windows.
This is in Adams county, in the south
western part of the State. The chief
occupation Of the Icarians is agricul-
ture, in which they have been mode
raiely successful. While thrifty, care
ful, economical, and industrious, they
do not think that the sole aim of life is
TO work hard and hoard up money.
They have some highly ethereal
IDEAS, which. indeed, if they could
be made to work, would bring
n millcnnial period to mankind. They
believe that the man who lives quietly
and calmly, developing his mental and
moral faculties, and emancipatlng HIM
self from the baser cares and demands
Of 1.-The world, the flesh, and the devil,
does wisely and well, however poor he
NAV be. When the longtime quiet
and peaceful community became twain
there was memberships of l50or more.
Young and ambitious members with
drew every once in awhile, the commu-
nity paying them stipend from the
common treasury, and of they went
20 try life on the American plan
of "every man for himself and the
devil take the hindmost. When the
split took place the older heads took
away forty or fifty persons, most OF
them white haired, venerable old peo-
pie, whose very appearance seems to
prove that the claim they make of
livinga better and more advanced life
than those of the world around them is
not altogether groundless. They are
proverbial for their politeness and de
meanor to each other and to those with
whom they come in contact. The
Young colony is anxious to sell its land
and 90 TO California, where a good
many OF its members are already
living. Within few years at the
most this remarkable experiment IN
comrlunistic life will live only in his
tory.
Iowa has one other communal socie-
ty, the Inspirationists, at Amana, in
Iowa county. This society, however,
is rich, its possessions covering some
$4,000 acres of land, with popula-
ton exceeding ! 800, dividedinto seven
villages. The people engage variously
in manufacturing and farming. They
have several woollen-, saw, and grist-
mills and tanneries, and their goods
are staple articles in the market. Each
family has its house, like the lcarians,
and all cook and eat together in CEN
trails. At the table, however, the men
and women are separated "to prevent
silly conversation and trifling conduct"
At the head of the organization is a
woman who is supposed by the men,
bers TO speak by the direct g inspira-
ton of God" Hence their name.
They came from Germany to New York
State in 1912, and to Iowa in 1856. The
society owes its foundation to an igno-
rant servant maid, who for many years
was the "inspired oracle " OF Amana.
The name Amana is taken from the
Song of Solomon, w., 8. Though
woman founded the society aud is con-
sidered the "oracle" through whom
come the commands of God, yet
the women of the community
are required TO work hard, dress
plainly, and avoid association with
mankind, notwithstanding which there
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